Did you know that the last day of Sukkot is its own holiday? I didn’t until very recently. It is called Hoshana Rabbah. In October I had the opportunity to attend at a morning service at Beth Jacob I learned something new! Here are some facts about Sukkot that I can now share with you.
The Rituals of Hoshana Rabbah
One of the notable rituals performed on Hoshana Rabbah involves circling the synagogue seven times in a counterclockwise direction. This practice is reminiscent of ancient traditions when the Second Temple was still standing. The act of circling is symbolic, representing a quest for redemption and spiritual elevation. During these circles, participants often sing Psalms while shaking their lulav, further enriching the experience with music and movement.
I was in synagogue by chance, and the circling and lulav waving was really fun!
The Historical Context of Sukkot
Sukkot is one of three major pilgrimage festivals in Judaism, with a rich history tied to the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. During these festivals, Jews would travel from far and wide to participate in the celebrations at the Temple. Among these festivals, Sukkot was regarded as the most significant, often referred to as “Hag”. It’s a time when the community comes together to rejoice in the blessings of the harvest and to remember their ancestors’ journey.
Imagine what it was like, people traveling from all over the world to the Temple, and doing these circling rituals. We don’t need to image – something similar happens to day.
The Connection Between Sukkot and Hajj
Interestingly, there is a parallel between the rituals of Sukkot and the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. The Arabic word “Haj” shares roots with the Hebrew “Hag,” emphasizing the connection between these two Semitic languages and cultures. Just as Jews circle the synagogue during Hoshana Rabbah, Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba in Mecca during Hajj.
This is super cool – we can learn about our religion through similarity with Islam, the religion of many of our Arab cousins.